Promoter had to hire singer's medic

Michael Jackson had insisted the company promoting his London concerts must hire the doctor who reportedly was in his Los Angeles mansion when he collapsed.

So AEG Live hired Dr Conrad Murray, said the company's president and chief executive Randy Phillips.

"We would have preferred not to because it would have been cheaper, but Michael was insistent that he be hired," Mr Phillips said. "Michael said he had a rapport with him."

Mr Phillips said AEG Live had advanced Jackson money to pay for Dr Murray's services as part of the production costs.

Mr Phillips said he asked Jackson why he wanted Dr Murray with him full-time. "He just said, 'Look, this whole business revolves around me. I'm a machine and we have to keep the machine well-oiled,' and you don't argue with the King of Pop," he said.

The promoter said that sometime in February Jackson had submitted to "five-plus hours of physicals that the insurance underwriter insisted on. We were told he passed with flying colours."

Based on those results and the nature of the comeback shows, all of which were to be held at the same venue from July 13 to March, AEG Live wasn't concerned about Jackson's history of medical issues.

"This wasn't as strenuous as a tour. There was no travel," Mr Phillips said. "He and the kids were going to be living in this beautiful home outside London and shows were spread out over six months. For him, it seemed like the perfect way to come back."

Mr Phillips attended Jackson's rehearsal at Staples Centre on Wednesday night, when the entertainer was on stage for about three hours. "He was dancing as well or better than the 20-year-old dancers we surrounded him with," the promoter said. "He was riveting."

Mr Phillips said AEG Live held multiple insurance policies covering cancellation of the shows. "We had pretty good coverage, but a lot of it is going to depend on the toxicology results," he said. "We need to know what the cause of death was."